Experience true “art on fire” at Kokomo Opalescent Glass (KOG), America’s oldest art glass company in business since 1888. Public factory tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. Can’t come during the week? Check out special Saturday tours only on Saturday, October 17, 2015 with continuous tours from 9:00 a.m. – Noon.

Take the tour to go behind the scenes at Kokomo Opalescent Glass.

Feel the heat of molten glass ladled from the 12-pot furnace. Over 22,000 variations of sheet glass are produced at KOG and shipped worldwide. Also watch amazing glass blowing demonstrations by local artisans and glass beadmaking demonstrations.

Visit The OP Shop (located at Kokomo Opalescent Glass) and Crystal Wand Creations in downtown Kokomo for stunning, handmade glass items made by local glass artists, great for giving as holiday gifts! While in downtown, enjoy lunch or dinner at one of many locally-owned restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops or visit unique shops and art galleries.

See over 2,000 pieces of glass on display at the Greentown Glass Museum.

See beautiful exhibits of highly-collectible Greentown and Jenkins glass at the Greentown Glass Museum and Seiberling Mansion, along with multiple stained glass windows and other local history and glass-related exhibits.

Learn more about local history and Indiana’s gas boom at the Seiberling Mansion.

To plan a unique glass getaway this fall or for more information, contact the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau at 800-837-0971 or visit http://www.VisitKokomo.org.

Learn about Kokomo/Howard County’s rich glass heritage during “Art on Fire” on October 17-18, 2014. Experience amazing art glass through factory tours, glass blowing demonstrations, exhibits, and shops during this special glass weekend!

Go behind the scenes at Kokomo Opalescent Glass, America’s oldest art glass company, on a fascinating tour to experience the glass-making process. Watch as hot glass is ladled from a 12-pot furnace, hand-mixed, cooled, and shipped all over the world. They produce over 22,000 variations of sheet glass! Also, see local glass blowers create unique glass art in the Hot Glass Studio, watch bead and suncatcher demonstrations, and have the opportunity to purchase beautiful glass items made by local artists in The OP Shop. Glass production tours and glass blowing will be offered from 9:00 a.m. through Noon both days. The OP Shop will be open on October 17 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and October 18 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Special Offer: Receive $5 off any purchase of $25 or more in The OP Shop!

Explore the Howard County Museum, located in the remarkable Seiberling Mansion, built by industrialist Monroe Seiberling for his family in 1891. The Mansion contains beautiful stained glass windows created with art glass from Kokomo Opalescent Glass. Some of the windows are original to the house, others were added during a recent renovation. The museum possesses one of the largest known collections of Jenkins Glass, produced in Kokomo, and has a portion of it on permanent display. There is a temporary display in the James Long Gallery, featuring Kokomo Opalescent Glass. Visitors can also see representative pieces of Greentown glass, produced by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company in Greentown, and Bournique glass, which began in Howard County. The Seiberling Mansion will be opened from 1-4 p.m. on October 17 and 18.

Next, head to Downtown Kokomo to discover Artworks Gallery, Crystal Wand Creations, and Fragrant Blossom Artisan Shop! Artworks Gallery will feature glass bead demonstrations and an art glass exhibit during this event. Talk with local artists while they work and see beautiful artwork in a variety of mediums in this 2-story art gallery. By the way, all pieces of art in the gallery are also available to purchase. Artworks Gallery will be open October 17 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and October 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Find local, handmade glass items at Crystal Wand Creations, including glass jewelry, stained glass ornamentals, panels, suncatchers & wind chimes in this unique retail shop located in Downtown. Special Offer: Receive 10% off all in-stock stained glass! The shop will be open October 17 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and October 18 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Purchase beautiful, custom glass art platters made from wine bottles at Fragrant Blossom Artisan Shop. The shop also carries handmade soap, candles, and accessories from Indiana artists. Open October 17 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and October 18 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Make sure to visit all three shops while in Downtown!

Finally, don’t miss a visit to the Greentown Glass Museum. The museum’s permanent exhibit houses over 2,000 pieces of glass on display, including a vast number of pieces of glassware produced by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company in Greentown between 1894-1903. The extensive display features various glass patterns and highly collectible pieces, such as Chocolate Glass, Golden Agate and Rose Agate. Open October 17 from 12-4 p.m. and October 18 from 1-4 p.m.

If you are looking to experience more of Kokomo’s local art and culture, look no further than the trails! Cheryl Sullivan, photographer and Kokomo Art Association President, was gracious enough to share some of her great photos with us taken along the Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence and the Industrial Heritage Trail.

Now that spring is upon us, what a great time to get outdoors to walk, jog, or ride your bike while enjoying beautiful murals and pieces of public artwork, many created by local artisans. Check out Kokomo’s trails to explore those shown below and many more! You can also find local art by Kokomo Art Association artists at the Kokomo Artworks Gallery in Downtown and the Kokomo Art Center.

Local Kokomo businesses Sweet Poppin’s and Front Porch Pretzels have been named Indiana Artisans. Indiana Artisans supports entrepreneurs who create high-quality art, crafts, and value-added foods in the Hoosier state. Artists are juried into this state-wide group. There are nearly 250 Indiana Artisans across the state, including over 80 foodists. We are proud to have two of these Indiana Artisan foodists from Kokomo!

Sweet Poppin’s gourmet flavored popcorn

Sweet Poppin’s, located in Downtown Kokomo, makes gourmet flavored chocolate covered popcorn in many indulgent flavors, including Pralines & Cream, Lemon Pound Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Peanut Butter Popcorn. Since their inception, over 30 popcorn flavors and/or combinations have been created. Visit their website to find out why this heavenly treat is “a dream come true!” Sweet Poppin’s popcorn can be purchased online or at their shop located at 107 East Sycamore Street.

Jams made by Front Porch Pretzels

Using all organic ingredients, Front Porch Pretzels makes hand-rolled soft pretzels, specialty breads, pies, and soups. However, they were juried into Indiana Artisan with their delicious jam made with organic fruit. Jam flavors offered include strawberry-rhubarb, pear-apple, dutch apple pie, and blueberry. For more information or to place an order, call 765.455.2085 or follow them on Facebook.

To find out more about Indiana Artisans throughout the state and the process to become designated by this program, visit www.IndianaArtisan.org.

Kokomo Artworks, a co-op of artists within the Kokomo Art Association, recently moved to a beautiful new gallery in Downtown Kokomo. While the entrance from the outside looks like a typical downtown shop, what you see inside is anything but ordinary!

A variety of artwork, ranging from watercolor, photography, to ceramics are all wonderfully displayed throughout the two story gallery, perfect for browsing with a morning cup of coffee or for holiday shopping. Art classes are also given for those that want to try their own hand at painting or other forms of art.

In addition to individual artwork displays, Little Town Glass Company has a glass studio on the second floor featuring stained glass art, glass jewelry, and steampunk gears (a very fun moveable art) and more. This family business (father & sons) hand-selects glass locally made at the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company to make their unique and exquisite glass creations.

Little Town Glass Company's owner Michael West works in his glass studio inside Kokomo Artworks

Also, both Kokomo Artworks and Little Town Glass are part of the Indiana Glass Trail, which features several stops in the Kokomo area as it winds through the state. For more information on the Indiana Glass Trail, visit www.IndianaGlassTrail.com or call the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau at 800-837-0971.